Attachment for casket lowering devices



Aug. 31, 1937. w, A, CANADAY 2,091,909

ENT FOR CASKET LOWERING DEVICES Filed Oct. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 fzverzkr: 74 /2 .ZQQrmd 9% %1 w. A. CANADAY 2,091,909

ATTACHMENT FOR CASKET LOWERING DEVICES Filed Oct. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR CASKET' LOWERING DEVICES 5 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to an attachment for facilitating the movement of a casket onto a conventional casket lowering device.

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the 5 necessity of pail-bearers walking along the sides of the grave and the danger of the sides of the grave caving in. By employing the present device the pall-bearers carry the casket to the nearest end of the grave and place the casket on. the first set of rollers whereupon the funeral director can then position the casket over the flexible webs without assistance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for facilitating the positioning of a casket, wherein no clutches, ratchets or other permanently connected mechanisms are neces sary. After the lowering device has been assembled for use at the grave, the attachment can be placed thereon by one person without the use of any tools. No adjustments are required regardless of the size of the casket being used.

The apparatus comprises essentially two sets of separate roller units disposed on opposite sides of the device with their outer ends resting on the lowering device shafts and their inner ends supported on the flexible webs when the latter are drawn taut to receive the casket. The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a lowering device equipped with the attachment; Fig. 2, a front sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1.

The lowering apparatus is of the conventional type having corner posts 5 in which are rotatably journalled winding shafts 6. The corner posts are joined by end frame members 1 .and usually one of the corner posts is provided with a governor (not shown) and a locking device for the shafts 6 which may be operated by a hand lever 8. Two or more flexible belts 9 have their end portions wound upon the shafts 6 in the well known manner. Also, the webs are provided at one end with a detachable connection with the shaft so that the Webs may be removed after the casket is lowered into the grave.

The present invention is concerned with an' anti-friction device for positioning the casket over the webs 9. The device is made up of roller supporting members having hooked ends 16 adapted to loosely embrace the shafts 6 and have their other ends supported by the webs 9. As

shown in Figs. 1 and 3 some of the roller members comprise a bracket or saddle II which may i be provided at its inner end with a roller l2 adapted to rest on. the flexible members 9. A pair of upwardly presented rollers 13 are journalled on the saddle H and disposed on opposite sides of the web. Between the roller supporting brackets H may be provided any suitable number of single roller supporting brackets 14 on which is journalled a roller l5. The inner end of the brackets M is apertured at IE to receive an adjusting shaft l1. Preferably the bracket is provided with a thumb screw l8 for gripping the rod H.

To assemble the device the double members have their hooked ends I I! slipped over the shafts, 6 and arranged so that the saddles l I straddle the webs 9. In the same manner the brackets M are hooked over the shaft and their inner end portions are connected by means of the rod I! which is disposed beneath the webs 9. If desired, special independent rollers may be provided at the approach end of the casket lowering device as shown in my Patent No. 1,828,391 dated October 20, 1931.

After the casket has been rolled into position over the webs 9, the director releases the brake 8 which permits the shafts 6 to rotate in opposite directions and unwind the flexible members 9. The roller supporting members being supported at one end on the webs, then swing downwardly with the webs towards the side walls of the grave and are out of the way while the shafts 6 rotate freely within the hooked ends Hi and permit the webs to lower the casket into the grave without interference. The webs 9 may then be unhooked from the shafts 6 and drawn out from under the casket. The device may be disassembled after use as will be readily understood.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a casket lowering device comprising rotatable lowering shafts and flexible members carried thereby, of casket-carrying roller members having one end supported on one of said lowering shafts and means on the other end adapted to be engaged and supported in substantially horizontal position by one of said flexible members.

2. In combination: a casket lowering device having rotatable lowering shafts and flexible members adapted to be wound on the shafts; bracket members having at one end connectingmeans adapted to hook over one of said shafts and transverse supporting-means at the other end adapted to rest on the flexible members; upwardly presented rollers journalled on said bracket members; and connecting means for holding said bracket members aligned and in spaced relation.

5. A device as specified in claim 4, in which the flexible members are threaded between the bracket members and the connecting-means.

WALTER A. CANADAY. 

